Most drivers in Virginia recognize that driving is a task that requires their full and undivided attention. Additionally, it requires individuals to have the physical and mental capacity to make quick decisions and execute control. These tasks are nearly impossible when a driver is drunk. As a result, drunk drivers in Virginia can wreak havoc on roadways.
According to data by the Virginia Highway Safety Office, in 2014 alcohol was to blame in a number of serious and fatal car accidents throughout the state. Specifically, 251 people were killed that year in alcohol related crashes. An additional 5,003 people were injured in accidents that involved alcohol.
These alcohol-related accidents did not just affect those old enough to legally drink alcohol. Instead, 377 teenagers — between the ages of 15 and 19-years-old — were injured in car accident involving alcohol.
These statistics help to show that drunk driving accidents in Virginia are not an isolated event. In fact, there are many drunk drivers on the roads. In 2014, more than 18,800 people were driving with a blood alcohol content level above the legal limit of .08 percent. Additionally, more than 24,000 people were convicted of driving under the influence in Virginia that year.
These sobering and sad statistics represent a slight decrease in drunk driving accidents and arrests from 2013. However, they also show that the problem is far from small. If individuals are injured in a drunk driving car accident, they may have legal rights in Virginia. At attorney can help individuals understand their rights when they have been injured by a drunk driver.